2004 Mercury Sable Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE FROM PARK INTO DRIVE. FRED BEANS FORD OF DOYLESTOWN (876 N EASTON RD, DOYLESTOWN, PA 18902), (215) 348-2901) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STOP LAMP SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16E026000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE RECALL WAS FOR THE YEAR 2003 VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,800.

NHTSA ID

11320752

Incident

Feb 1, 2020

Mileage

99,800 mi

WHILE PARKED, TRIED TO PUT CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY BUT CAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. ONLY WAY TO GET CAR TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK IS TO APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKES THEN SHIFT CAR INTO NEUTRAL WHILE KEY TURNED TO OFF POSITION. BREAK LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED. I CHECKED ALL THE FUSES AND REPLACED THE BREAK LAMP BULBS TO TROUBLESHOOT ISSUE ACCORDING TO OWNERS MANUAL HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. WHEN RESEARCHING ONLINE I READ ABOUT THE SAME EXACT ISSUES OCCURRING IN SAME MODEL AND MAKE THAT WERE RECALLED. I WENT TO MY NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP TO INFORM THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND GET SOME ASSISTANCE IN FIXING THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT HELP IN THE MATTER, AND STATED THAT MY PARTICULAR VIN # AND YEAR MODEL 2004 HAD NO RECALLS. THE RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR FAULTY BREAK LIGHT SWITCHES IN 2003 AND PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS OF MERCURY SABLES. I'VE READ ABOUT NUMEROUS ISSUES OCCURRING WITH OTHER 2004 MERCURY SABLE OWNERS THAT ALSO CANNOT GET HELP WITH THIS MATTER. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE NHTSA INVESTIGATES TO FIND OUT WHY 2004 MODELS ARE ALSO EXHIBITING SAME RECALL SAFETY ISSUES. THE PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY LIES WITH THE PART (SAME BREAK LIGHT SWITCH) FORD INSTALLED ON THESE VEHICLES AND NOT NECESSARILY THE YEAR THE VEHICLE WAS MADE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PRIMARY MISSION AND ROLE OF THE NHTSA IS TO HELP KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE AND INFORMED ABOUT POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES. THEREFORE, I HOPE THEY NOT ONLY INVESTIGATE WHY FORD USED THE SAME FAULTY PART ON OTHER YEAR MODEL VEHICLES BUT ALSO ISSUE THE NECESSARY RECALL FOR SAID VEHICLES WITH THOSE PARTS. IF, WHILE TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY, A CAR SLAMS INTO US BECAUSE NO BREAK LIGHTS WILL ENGAGE, WHOSE FAULT IS THAT? I'VE BROUGHT THIS SAFERY ISSUE CONCERN TO THE ATTENTION OF FORD AND NOW THE NHTSA. FAILURE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE PUTS THE PUBLIC IN DANGER!

NHTSA ID

11119888

Incident

Aug 13, 2018

Mileage

172,000 mi

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING ON A CITY STREET. I DON'T KNOW WHY BUT IT APPEARS TO BE A CRITICAL SAFETY PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND ONLY HAS 78,000 MILES , VERY LOW FOR A 2004 VEHICLE. FORD MOTOR DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL OF ANY KIND ON THIS CAR. I AM A RETIRED SENIOR CITIZEN AND THIS IS MY ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION.

NHTSA ID

11101862

Incident

Jun 14, 2018

Mileage

78,000 mi

CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF TO ABOVE 55 MPH AT LOCAL ROAD, WHEN PUT TO PARKING, THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING AT MORE THAN 3500 RPM, IT WAS CRAZY, NEARLY KILLED SOME KIDS.

NHTSA ID

11043314

Incident

Nov 4, 2017

Mileage

2 mi

THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED CAUSING INABILITY TO GET SHIFT LEVER OUT OF PARK MODE. BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON ALL THE TIME OR NOT COME ON AT ALL. THE PROBLEM WAS NOTED AFTER PARKING IN OUR GARAGE AND NOTICING THE BRAKE LIGHTS BEING ON ALL THE TIME. I DISCOVERED THAT TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH TO FIRST INDENT THAT THE SHIFT LEVER CAN BE PLACED IN THE NEUTRAL MODE SO ENGINE CAN BE STARTED. IN DRIVING THE CAR, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. WHEN STOPPING THE CAR AND SHIFTING TO THE PARK MODE, THE SHIFT LEVER CANNOT BE TAKEN OUT OF THE PARK MODE WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE SEQUENCE DESCRIBED ABOVE. THERE WAS A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS ON THE 2000-2004 SABLES (REFERENCE 04V106000), BUT FORD TELLS ME THE 2004 SABLES ARE NOT UNDER RECALL ALTHOUGH THE 2004 MODELS USE THE SAME DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAUSING THE EXACT PROBLEMS AS THE 2000-2003 MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10918494

Incident

Oct 18, 2016

Mileage

28,100 mi

I CONTACTED KEN GRODY FORD IN BUENA PARK,CA 2-3 MONTHS AGO TO ASK IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON MY CAR? THE MANAGER I SPOKE WITH TOLD ME "NO!" HE ALSO MAILED ME A COPY OF HIS "OASIS" SEARCH WHICH SHOWED NO RECALLS! HELP! [XXX] PLEASE MAIL ME RECALL ALERTS ON MY CAR! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10874695

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY LIGHT RANDOMLY FLASHED AND THE ALARM RANDOMLY SOUNDED WITHIN LESS THAN THAN TWO DAYS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10850737

Incident

Mar 11, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE RPMS INCREASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND EXHIBITED RAPID ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.

NHTSA ID

10820421

Incident

Jun 9, 2015

Mileage

135,000 mi

DRIVING ALONG RESIDENTIAL AREA, EXTREMELY LOUD BANG WITH BURNING RUBBER SMOKE. STOPPED IN ROAD LOOKED UNDER HOOD FOUND NOTHING WRONG. TRIED TO DRIVE AGAIN AND THERE WAS A BUMPING NOISE AND MORE RUBBER SMELL AND SMOKE. REPEAT INSPECTION DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVERS WHEEL CLEARANCE WAS DROPPED AND RUBBING ON THE WHEEL. SEARCH OF INTERNET SHOWS THAT SPRINGS ARE ROUTINELY BREAKING AND CAUSING INJURY AND DEATH.

NHTSA ID

10722375

Incident

May 29, 2015

Mileage

140,000 mi

CAR WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK, NOR WILL BRAKE LIGHTS OPERATE WHEN PEDAL DEPRESSED. EXACT SYMPTOMS AS DESCRIBED IN PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR RECALLS. ONLY WAYTO GET CAR OUT OF PARK IS TO PLACE IN NEUTRAL AFTER TURNING KEY IN IGNITION TO FIRST AVAIALBLE POSITION, THEN APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE SHIFT LOCK. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM W/ A FAILED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY. IT'S TOO DANGEROUS OF A PROBLEM TO NOT HAVE A RECALL. MANY OTHER MODEL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. WHY NOT THIS MODEL?

NHTSA ID

10717640

Incident

Mar 1, 2014

Mileage

95,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10683146

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

90,000 mi

THE CAR WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK, NOR DO THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK AND SOMETIMES THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. RECALL #04S12 OR 04V106000. HOWEVER THE RECALL STOPS AT 2003. MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME DEFECTIVE SWITCH IN IT BUT FORD IS REFUSING TO REPLACE IT. THEY CLAIM MY VEHICLE WAS MADE A FEW DAYS AFTER THE RECALL STOPPED. WELL THAT DOESN'T MAKE MY BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH ANY SAFER. I'M BEING HANDED A LINE OF CRAP BY FORD. THEY INSTALLED A DEFECTIVE SWITCH AND HAVE ADMITTED ITS DEFECTIVE AND WONT FIX MINE BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURE DATE. WHAT COURT WOULDN'T PROSECUTE FORD IF I HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE SWITCH THAT THEY KNOW IS DEFECTIVE BUT REFUSE TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10671773

Incident

Dec 16, 2014

Mileage

99,300 mi

CAR WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK, NOR WILL BRAKE LIGHTS OPERATE WHEN PEDAL DEPRESSED. EXACT SYMPTOMS AS DESCRIBED IN PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR RECALLS. ONLY WAYTO GET CAR OUT OF PARK IS TO PLACE IN NEUTRAL AFTER TURNING KEY IN IGNITION TO FIRST AVAILABLE POSITION, THEN APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE SHIFT LOCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10663755

Incident

Dec 6, 2014

Mileage

54,000 mi

THE DRIVER SIDE, THREE POINT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY COMES UNLATCHED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS IS EVEN AFTER THE BELT TONGUE IS IN PLACE, YOU HEAR A CLICK FROM THE LATCH CLOSING AND LOCKING AND THE BELT HAS BEEN PULLED ON TO TEST THE CONNECTION. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND THE ATTENDANT SAID THAT THE SEAT BELT LATCH WAS LIKELY NOT WORKING DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 200,000 MILES AND IS VERY MUCH STILL DRIVABLE. THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO CHARGE THE VEHICLE OWNER OVER $300.00 FOR THE REPAIR AND WILL NOT REPAIR WITHOUT PAYMENT. THE SEAT BELTS SHOULD BE GUARANTEED TO WORK PROPERLY OVER THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT AN EXPENSIVE FIX AS VERY FEW PEOPLE DRIVE THEIR CARS OVER 120,000 MILES AS IS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10660094

Incident

Nov 21, 2014

Mileage

178,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE ENGINE KEEPS CONSTANT SPEED EVEN AFTER REMOVING FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IT'S LIKE A STUCK THROTTLE. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO APPLY BRAKE AND SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND STAMP ON THE ACCELERATOR. TRAFFIC HAD COME TO A STOP AND MY ENGINE WAS STILL REVVING AT 3500 RPMS PRETTY SCARY, ONLY THING HOLDING CAR BACK IS BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10650321

Incident

Oct 22, 2014

Mileage

105,003 mi

STARTED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH. PRESSED HARD ON BRAKES TO STOP, PUT IT ON PARK MODE. STILL RPM WAS AROUND 4000. TURNED OFF ENGINE. WHEN CRANKED BACK, RPM KEPT ON INCREASING WITHOUT FOOT ON ACCELERATOR. TAPPED HARD ON ACCELERATOR COUPLE OF TIMES, RPM WENT BACK TO NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10643616

Incident

Oct 9, 2014

Mileage

143,300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND EXHIBITED RAPID ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA ID

10609920

Incident

Jan 16, 2014

Mileage

71,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AND I GO OVER 50 MPH MY CAR WILL SPEED UP WHICH CAUSE THE THROTTLE CABLE TO COME APART AN D THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION SPEEDS UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10586796

Incident

May 25, 2013

Mileage

11,867 mi

I RECEIVED A PANICKED PHONE CALL FROM MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AFTER A LIFE THREATENING EXPERIENCE. SHE WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN, THE ENGINE RACED TO 4,000 RPM AND STAYED THERE, WHILE SHE FRANTICALLY PRESSED THE BRAKE. THANKFULLY SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS SHE PULLED OFF IT THE ROAD. SHE IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES SHE STARTED THE CAR, AGAIN IT RACED TO 4,000 RPM. AFTER TRYING THIS MULTIPLE TIMES I HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME. A CALL TO FORD VERIFIED THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS OR RECALL WORK DONE ON THIS VEHICLE. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ONLINE, TO MY AMAZEMENT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ISSUE.IN FEAR FOR MY CHILD AND ANYONE ELSE WHO MIGHT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE I HAVE REMOVED IT FROM USE, AND FEEL STUCK WITH UNSAFE VEHICLE. I AM HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE LACK OF RESPONSE/RESOLVE FROM THE MANUFACTURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10553933

Incident

Nov 26, 2013

Mileage

54,296 mi

THROTTLE GETS STUCK. THIS WAS REPAIRED IN FEBRUARY OF 2009 AND HAS OCCURRED AGAIN NOW IN OCTOBER 2013. STATEMENT FROM FORD DEALERSHIP NOV 4, 2013: SPEED CONTROL CABLE BROKEN NEEDS REPLACE MAY BE CAUSING THROTTLE LINKAGE TO BIND. DEALERSHIP INDICATES THAT A RECALL ON THE 2000-2003 MERCURY SABLES COVERS THE EXACT REPAIRS THAT ARE NECESSARY ON MY VEHICLE BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED AS IT IS A 2004. CONTACTED FORD AT 1-800-392-3673 AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10550897

Incident

Feb 2, 2009

Mileage

65,775 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SHOULDER AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,794.

NHTSA ID

10533654

Incident

Dec 1, 2012

Mileage

76,794 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SITTING IDLE AT A TRAFFIC STOP. THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND THE RPMS INCREASED BEFORE THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED. FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 203,000.

NHTSA ID

10522656

Incident

Feb 1, 2013

Mileage

198,000 mi

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AT PEDAL FAULTY WITH SAME SYMPTOMS AS RECALL NHTSA I.D. # 04V10600...BRAKE LIGHTS WON'T ACTIVATE WHEN PEDAL DEPRESSED WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED AND WHEN PARKED TRANSMISSION RANGE SELECTOR IS STUCK IN PARK POSITION. THESE SYMPTOMS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT FROM THE REAR AND OR LEAVE FAMILY MEMBERS STRANDED. CURIOUSLY THIS RECALL DOESN'T LIST THE RECALLED SWITCHES PART NUMBER AND CERTAINLY FORD MOTORS WON'T ADMIT THAT A FEW WERE INSTALLED ON 2004 MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10494895

Incident

Jan 18, 2013

Mileage

137,590 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND ENGAGE THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ID

10493249

Incident

Jan 9, 2013

Mileage

82,000 mi

MY MERCURY SABLE 2004 BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. THE FIRST TIME I WAS CRUISING AT 35MPH AND HAD TROUBLE STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN. BRAKING CAUSED A VIBRATION THE RPM'S WERE NOT GOING DOWN. DRIVING FURTHER I NOTED THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE BY ITSELF. TAPPING THE THE GAS PEDAL QUICKLY SOMETIMES CAUSED THE RPM'S TO GO BACK TO NORMAL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL GARAGE AND HAD THE THROTTLE (CABLES, ETC) CHECKED. ALL WERE REPORTED OK. THE ISSUE HAS HAPPENED OFF AND ON BUT YESTERDAY (11/28/12) WAS THE WORST. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND MY ISSUE IS EXACTLY THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ISSUE REPORTED BY MANY OTHER TAURUS/SABLE OWNERS. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND AM NOW CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. I CONTACTED FORD AND GOT A CASE NUMBER ASSIGNED. I AM WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10486444

Incident

Jul 13, 2012

Mileage

99,500 mi